Pressure or condensate relief valve



C. STERN Feb. 21, 1939.

PRESSURE OR CONDENSATE RELIEF VALVE Filed May 16, 1956 INVENTOR MM .FZEJM'V ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSURE OR CONDENSATE RELIEF VALVE Charles Stern, Jersey City, N. J.

Application May 6,

14 Claims.

This invention relates to valves. It is particularly directed to a safety cylinder cock for use in connection with cylinders of steam engines, or other receptacles, tanks or containers having fluid or liquids under pressure, as a safety device to drain such fluids or liquids therefrom should the pressure therein rise above a pre-determined amount, and also to relieve the pressure.

An object of this invention is to provide in a valve of the character described, a piston and cylinder between which fluid under pressure is introduced to cause movement of one relative to the other, and a highly improved packing on the piston to render the cylinder pressure-tight, the construction being such as to permit adjustment or tightening of the packing to take up wear and maintain the valve pressure-tight even after long use, without interfering with the operation of the valve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cylinder cock of the character described adapted for attachment to the cylinder of the steam enlue on a locomotive, which shall be so constructed as to minimize resistance to air pressure while the locomotive is in motion, and to emit the locked water in the cylinder or steam therefrom rearwardly of the direction of motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a neat and compact cylinder cock of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensi ve to manufacture, simple to attach to a cylinder or other container, positive in. operation, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevational, axial, cross-sectional View of a cylinder cock embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cylinder cock;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the said cylinder cock;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the cylinder cock;

Fig. 5 is a reduced cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

1936, Serial No. 80,027

Fig. 6 is a reduced cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a View substantially similar to Fig. 1, but showing the valve in open position.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a cylinder cock embodying the invention attached to a wall H of the cylinder of a steam engine or of any receptacle, tank or container having therein fluid or liquid therein under pressure. Said wall H has a boss I2 at the bottom formed with an internally screw-threaded opening M.

The cylinder cock I!) comprises a member which may be made as a casting, or in any other suitable manner, and has an outer horizontal, streamlined or bullet-shaped wall or portion Hi from which there extends upwardly at the top, a neck ll disposed at right angles to the axis of said portion Hi. The axis of said neck, as shown in the drawing, is in the same plane with the axis of said bullet-shaped portion IS. The neck ll has a polygonal outer surface [8 at the bottom, and an externally screw-threaded portion 19 at the top, engaging within the screw threads I4 of the boss l2. The neck I! has a central passage 20 communicating with the interior of the cylinder or receptacle ll.

Said member I5 furthermore has a wall or partition 23 disposed transversely of the axis thereof, formed with. a central opening 24, the edge of which has a conical valve seat 25 on the rear surface of said wall. The wall 23 also has a pair of arcuate side openings 28 adjacent the wall It. Extending rearwardly from the wall 23 is a substantially cylindrical wall 30, co-axial with the wall l6 and spaced inwardly therefrom to provide a passage 3| communicating with the openings 28 and with the passage or opening 20 in neck IT. The cylindrical wall 30 is not a complete cylinder and has spaced webs 33 on opposite sides of a vertical plane extending through the axis of said wall, interconnecting the same with the'wall [6 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawmg.

On the cylindrical wall 30 is a transverse wall 31 parallel to. the wall 23 and formed with an axial through opening or bore 38 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Rearwardly of the wall 31, the webs 33 are interconnected by an arcuate wall portion 40 which completes the cylindrical wall 30 to form a cylindrical chamber 4| in back of the wall 31 open at the rear. The wall 40 may increase in thickness toward the rear.

It will now be understood that there is formed between the walls 23 and 31, a space or chamber 42 communicating with a rearwardly extending horizontal passage 43 between the webs 33 and beneath the arcuate wall 30. Said passage 43 is open at the rear. The space or chamber 42 comnunicates with the conical chamber 35 in front of partition 23, through the opening 24 in said partition. The passage 3! is terminated at the rear by a web 45 which interconnects the cylindrical wail 30 with the outer bullet-shaped wall IE5. The web 45 is disposed at the rear of the member [5 and may be provided with a plurality of thickened portions or bosses 46 having horizontal screw-threaded opening 4! for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. The arcuate wall 40 at the bottom of the cylindrical chamber 4| may have a drain opening 55 through which accumulation may pass out.

Attached to the rear end of the cylindrical chamber 4| is a plate or cap 51 closing said chamber and having a plurality of openings 52 registering with the screw-threaded openings 41 and re ceiving stud screws which attach said cap or plate to the member #5. Said plate 5| has a central through-opening 54, and an inwardly extending flange 65 at said opening. The inner surface of said opening is provided with a longitudinal key slot 55. Slidably extending through said opening 54 is the shank 56 of a piston 51 having a head 59 disposed within the cylindrical chamber 4!. The outer diameter of said head is the same as that of flange 65. The shank 56 is formed with external screw threads 60 and with a key slot 6| receiving a key or spline 64 cooperating with the key slot 55 to prevent rotation of the piston while permitting longitudinal sliding movement thereof. Interposed between the piston head 59 and flange 65 and surrounding the shank of the piston, is an annular ring or packing member 66 preferably made of self-lubricating metal of any other suitable composition. The outer diameter of the packing ring is preferably equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of piston head 59 or flange 65. A nut 61 screwed to the threads 60 of the piston shank 56 serves to tighten up on the packing ring 66 for the purpose hereinafter explained.

Slidably mounted on the piston head 59 is a cylinder 10 having a cylindrical wall H snugly receiving the cylinder head, ring 66 and flange 65. The cylinder wall H has an end wall 12 parallel to the piston head 59 and is also formed with an outwardly extending flange 13 at the outer end.

thereof.

The piston shank is formed with an axial through-opening 56a and with a nipple 56b to which a pipe 560 leading to an air or other fluid pressure supply is coupled by a coupling member Within the cylindrical chamber 4| and disposed about the cylinder 10 is a coil compression spring 1'5 interposed between the flange l3 and the inner surface of the wall 31. Said spring normally tending to move the cylinder rearwardly on the piston. Slidably mounted within the bore or opening 38 in the wall 31, is a valve member having a conical surface 8! adapted to seat on the valve seat 25 of the wall 23. At the rear thereof, the valve member 80 has a circular flange 82 contacting the front surface of the cylinder end wall I2. The valve 80 may be attached to the cylinder 10 in any suitable manner, for example, by a plurality of angular metal strips 85 engaging the flange 82 and welded to the cylinder.

The operation of the cylinder cock will now be described. When the pressure within the cylinder, tank, receptacle or other container to which the cylinder cock is attached, is below a pre-determined pressure, the air pressure supply through pipe 560 is sufficient to maintain the valve 80 seated on the Valve seat 25 for closing the opening 24. However, should the accumulation of water within the cylinder cause a rise of pressure therein, or should the pressure therein rise for any other reason above a pre-determined amount, the valve 80 will be moved rearwardly against the pressure of the air between the piston head 59 and the cylinder ill, to open the passage 24 and permit water locked within the cylinder to be blown or forced out through the passage 43. Spring 15 serves to open the valve 80 when the cylinder cock is not in operation. As soon as the pressure within the steam cylinder is reduced below said pre-determined pressure, the air will again seat the valve 80.

The cylinder cock being streamlined or bulletshaped, minimizes resistance to air, as for example, when attached to a cylinder of a locomotive steam engine. Since the cylinder cock is built on a horizontal axis, the body thereof is located closer to the under-side of the cylinder, thereby making for compactness and neatness of construction.

It will be noted that the steam and water which is blown out of the cylinder when the valve 80 opens, will be emitted or discharged rearwardly from the passage 43. Said passage is somewhat inclined downwardly toward the rear to carry the steam and water in a downwardly inclined direction away from the cylinder. The steam and water passing out of the cylinder cock in a rearward direction will not be likely to injure persons standing at the side of the locomotive or blow up the cinders of the roadbed.

Should the packing become loose due to wear or for any other reason, the nut 51 may easily be turned to tighten up on the packing and press the same against the interior surface of the cylinder l0; and this adjustment may be carried out without interfering with the operation of the cylinder cock. Furthermore, the cylinder cock may be easily attached to the cylinder by applying a wrench to the polygonal neck portion I 8.

Although the invention has been illustrated as embodied in a cylinder cock, it will be understood that other valves may be constructed in accordance with the invention, one dominant feature of the invention being the provision of a packing ring on a piston which may be tightened or pressed into contact with the interior surface of a cylinder on said piston to render the cylinder pressure-tight.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A cylinder cock adapted to be attached to a steam cylinder and having a wall formed with an opening adapted to communicate with the interior of the steam cylinder when the cylinder cock is attached thereto, a valve member adapted to close saido'pening,.a'cylinder' movable withsaid valve member, a pistonhaving a head within said movable cylinder and provided with a shank extendingfrom'saidhead, means for introducing fluid under pressure into said movable cylinder through said'piston, a packing ring sur rounding the shank of said'piston and engaging the head thereof; and means for compressing said packingring to press the same into engagemerit with the interior surface of said movable cylinder.

2. A cylinder cock adapted tobe attached to a steam cylinder and having a' wallformed with an opening adapted to communicate with the interior of the steam cylinder when the cylinder cock isattached thereto, a" valve member adaptedto close said opening, a cylinder movable with said valve member, a piston having a head within said movable cylinder and provided with a shank extending from said head, means for introducing fluid under pressure into said movable cylinder through said pistorL-a' packing ring surrounding the shank of said piston and engaging the head thereof, means for compressing said packing ring to press the same into engagement with the interior surface of said movable cylinder, and a neck on said cylinder cock extending at an angle to the axis of said movable cylinder.

3. In combination a cylinder open at one end and closed at the other, a member having a flange projecting into the open end of said cylinder andbeing formed with an opening, a piston having a head within said cylinder and a shank extending through said opening and being splined to said member, said" shank being formed with screw threads on a portion thereof, a packing ring surrounding said shank and disposed between said flange and head, and a nut screwed to the screw-threaded portion of said shank and contacting said member.

4. In combination a cylinder open at one end and closed at theother, a member having a flange projecting into the open end of said cylinder and being formed with an opening, a piston having a head within said cylinder and a shank extending through said opening and being splined to said member, said" shank being formed with screw threads on a portion thereof, a packing ring of self-lubricating metal surrounding said shank and disposed between said flange and head, and a nut screwed to the screw-threaded portion of said shank and contacting said member, said piston having a through passage and a pipe leading to a supply of fluid under-pressure coupled to said shank and communicating with said passage.

5. In a cylinder cock, a member having a wall formed with an opening, a valve slidably mounted in said member and adapted to close said opena ing, a cylinder movable with saidvalve, a fixed plate on said member having a flange projecting into said cylinder and being formed with a through opening, a piston having a head within said cylinder and a shank extending through the opening in said plate, said piston being splined side of said wall; said member being formed with an outlet passage communicating with said'opening on the opposite side of said wall, a cylinder movable with said' valve, a plate fixed on said member and'having a flange projecting into said cylinder and. being formedwith a through opening, a piston having a head within said cylinder and a shank extending through the opening in said plate, said piston being splined to said plate, and a packing ring between said flange and said head to render said cylinder air-tight.

7. In a cylinder cock, a member having a wall form-ed with an opening, a valve slidably mounted in said member and adapted to close said opening, said member having a neck extending at right angles to the direction of movement of said valve, said neck being formed with a passage communicating with said opening on one side of said wall, said member being formed with an outlet passage communicating with said opening on the opposite side of said wall, a cylinder movable with said valve, a plate fixed on said member and having a flange projecting into said cylinder and being formed with a through opening, a piston having a head within said cylinder and a shank extending through the opening in said plate, said piston being splined to said plate, a packing ring between said flange and said head to render said cylinder air-tight, and spring means for moving said valve and cylinder away from said wall.

8. In a cylinder cook, a member having a wall formed with an opening, a valve slidably mounted in said member and adapted to close said opening, said member having a neck extending at right angles to the direction of movement of said valve, said neck being formed with a passage communicating with said opening on one side of said wall, said member being formed with an outlet passage communicating with said opening on the opposite side of said wall, a cylinder movable with said valve, a plate fixed on said member and having a flange projecting into said cylinder and being formed with a through opening, a piston having a head within said cylinder and a shank extending through the opening in said plate, said piston being splined to said plate, a packing ring between said flange and said head to render said cylinder air-tight, spring means for moving said valve and cylinder away from said wall, said piston being formed with a through opening, a pipe leading to a supply of fluid under-pressure being attached to said shank and communicating with said through passage, said shank being formed with an externally screw-threaded portion, and a nut on the said screw-threaded portion of the shank engaging said plate.

9. A cylinder cock comprising a; member having an outer bullet-shaped wall and provided with a neck extending at right angles to the axis of said wall, said member having a partition at right angles to said axis and formed with a central opening communicating with said neck, said member having a cylindrical chamber provided with an end wall parallel to said partition and formed with a central bore and being open at the rear, said cylindrical chamber being connected to the outer wall by portions forming therebetween a passage communicating with the space between said end wall of said cylindrical chamber and said partition; said last passage being open at the rear; a valve member slidably extending within said bore and adapted to be seated on the edge of the opening in said partition, a cylindrical member within said cylindrical chamber having a wall at one end contacting said valve member and being formed at the opposite end with an outwardly extending flange, a coil compression spring interposed between said flange and the end wall of said cylindrical chamber, a plate fixed to the rear of said member and closing said cylindrical chamber, said plate being formed with a through opening and a flange extending into said cylindrical member, a piston having a head in said cylindrical member and a stem slidably extending through said opening in said plate and being formed with an externally screw-threaded portion, means for splining said stem to said plate, a nut screwed to the threaded portion of said stem and engaging the outer side of said plate, and an annular packing member of self-lubricating metal interposed between the flange on said plate and the head of said piston.

10. A cylinder cock comprising a member having an outer bullet-shaped Wall and provided with a neck extending at right angles to the axis of said wall, said member having a partition at right angles to said axis and formed with a central opening communicating with said neck, said member having a cylindrical chamber provided with an end wall parallel to said partition and formed with a central bore and being open at the rear, said cylindrical chamber being connected to the outer wall by portions forming therebetween a passage communicating with the space between said end wall of said cylindrical chamber and said partition; said last passage being open at the rear; a valve member slidably extending within said bore and adapted to be seated on the edge of the opening in said partition, a cylindrical member within said cylindrical chamber having a wall at one end contacting said valve member and being formed at the opposite end with an outwardly extending flange, a coil compression spring interposed between said flange and the end wall of said cylindrical chamber, a plate fixed to the rear of said member and closing said cylindrical chamber, said plate being formed with a through opening and a flange extending into said cylindrical member, a piston having a head in said cylindrical member and a stem slidably extending through said opening in said plate and being formed with an externally screw-threaded portion, means for splining said stem to said plate, a nut screwed to the threaded portion of said stem and engaging the outer side of said plate, and an annular packing member of self-lubricating metal interposed between the fiange on said plate and the head of said piston, said stem having a through opening for introducing air under pressure into said cylindrical member.

11. In a cylinder cook, a member, a plate fixed thereto and being formed with a through opening, a piston within said member and having a shank extending through said opening, a cylinder movable within said member and received on the head of said piston and being open at the end thereof adjacent said plate and. closed at the opposite end, a packing ring surrounding the shank of said piston and engaging the head thereof, and means for moving said piston rela tive to said fixed plate to compress said packing ring.

12. In a cylinder cook, a member, a plate fixed thereto and being formed with a through opening, a piston within said member and having a shank extending through said opening, a cylinder movable within said member and received on the head of said piston and being open at the end thereof adjacent said fixed plate and closed at the opposite end, a packing ring surrounding the shank of said piston and engaging the head thereof, and means for moving said piston relative to said fixed plate to compress said packing ring, the stem of said piston being formed with a passage and means for introducing fluid under pressure through said passage into said cylinder.

13. In combination, a member having an opening and a flange at said opening, a second member having a shank extending through said opening and a head on said shank substantially similar in outer dimension to that of said flange, a packing ring surrounding said shank and disposed between said flange and head, a tubular member received on said head, packing ring and flange, and slidable relative thereto, said packing ring frictionally engaging the inner surface of said tubular member, and means for adjustably fixing said second member to said first member whereby said packing ring may be compressed by such adjustment into contact with the inner surface of said tubular member to take up wear on said packing ring and maintain said ring in engagement with said inner surface.

14. A cylinder cock comprising a member having an outer wall and being formed with a partition having a central opening, and an inner cylindrical chamber provided with an end wall parallel to said partition and formed with a central bore, and being open at the rear, said cylindrical chamber being connected to the outer wall by portions forming therebetween, a passage communicating with the space between said end wall of said cylindrical chamber and said partition, a valve member slidably extending within said bore and adapted to close the opening in said partition, a cylindrical member within said cylindrical chamber, movable with said valve member, spring means for moving said valve member away from said opening to open the same, a plate fixed to the rear of said first member and closing said cylindrical chamber, said plate being formed with a through opening and also with a flange extending into said cylindrical member, a piston having a stem slidably extending through said opening in said plate, said piston having a head within said cylindrical member, said stem being splined to said plate and being screw-threaded, a nut screwed to said stem and engaging said plate, and an annular packing member interposed between the flange on said plate and the head of said piston.

CHARLES STERN. 

